January 10, 2015 Comments Off on Scots orphans used in ‘military experiments’, Ringleader in FAMU Hazing Death Sentenced to 6 Years, Children ‘washed in toilets’ at Birmingham care home, ‘endemic child abuse’ St. Helena

Scots orphans used in ‘military experiments’HOLYROOD’S child abuse inquiry will hear claims that British military scientists conducted drug tests on orphans in Scottish mental hospitals. By Ben Borland Sun, December 21, 2014

The allegations centre on at least four institutions where thousands of children are said to have been experimented upon in conditions described as “like something out of Auschwitz”.

It is alleged that Porton Down, the top secret military facility in Wiltshire, was involved in trialling drugs for use in the Cold War on youngsters who were regarded as “feeble-minded”.

One survivor told this newspaper he has obtained written and video evidence that he will pass to the public inquiry into historical abuse of children in care when it begins next year.

The man, now in his 50s, has been advised by lawyers to conceal his identity for his own safety until his full submission can be lodged at the inquiry announced by Scottish Education Secretary Angela Constance.

However, he was willing to divulge some of his intended testimony about the treatment he and others suffered.

He said: “Six and seven year olds were tied to racks and given electric shocks.
“I was incarcerated with orderlies armed with rubber coshes.
“We were imprisoned, experimented upon, lobotomies, you name it, they did it.
“I was there, I saw it with my own eyes.
We were imprisoned, experimented upon, lobotomies, you name it, they did it….

Lennox Castle Hospital, near Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, is one of four Scottish institutions alleged to have been involved.

The witness believes there may have been as many as 3,500 children who were involved in the Porton Down testing programme over the years.

He said: “They were using orphans to experiment with drugs for the Cold War.
“The drug programme ran from 1948 to 1982.
“I believe this happened throughout the UK but I’m referring to Scotland.
“I have this evidence, on paper and on film, and I will hand it to the public inquiry.

….Six years ago hundreds of veterans who ‘volunteered’ to take part in tests at Porton Down were offered £3million in compensation.

They were exposed to nerve agents, such as sarin gas, and hallucinogens, such as LSD.

In the most infamous case, from 1953, Ronald Maddison took part in a trial of what he believed was a cold remedy, but died within an hour of having sarin dabbed on his arm.

Other Porton Down experiments included spraying bacteria over the south coast of England and dropping cancer-causing particles from planes.

And Gruinard Island in Wester Ross had to be sealed off for almost 50 years after it was contaminated with anthrax during the Second World War.

Porton Down is the home of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, an agency of the Ministry of Defence.

Children ‘washed in toilets’ at Birmingham care home
By David Lumb BBC News, West Midlands 5 January 2015

Ex-residents of a children’s home have described being beaten, made to wash in toilet water and sleep on floors.

Up to eight people reported cruelty at St Athan Croft in Castle Vale, Birmingham, dating back to the 1970s and 80s, the BBC understands.

In February 2014 police began investigating claims against former live-in house parents Patricia and James Connolly.

However, officers could not take action because the couple are dead.

One former resident said she was one of about 16 children living in three rooms at the home.

The woman, who was at St Athan Croft in the mid-70s and stayed until she was aged 13, told the BBC children were regularly beaten, hit with sticks and thrown in cold water in the early hours of the morning as punishments….http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-27710630

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (FCO) has been accused of lying to the UN over “endemic” child sex abuse in the British overseas territory of St Helena to cover up allegations, one of which was that a police officer raped a four-year-old girl.

Child protection whistleblowers who worked on the remote South Atlantic island are now suing the FCO and the Department for International Development, claiming that civil servants suppressed the reality of life on St Helena.

A draft report on their allegations, commissioned by the government, found the island of 4,000 people, which relies on a £20m annual grant from Whitehall, had a “persistent” culture of abusing teenage girls and a “cultural acceptance of the premature sexualisation of children”. Girls were subjected to “violent and brutal” attacks….http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/National/article1503018.ece

July 26, 2014 Comments Off on Probe launched by Foreign Office into allegations of child abuse on British territory of St Helena

Probe launched by Foreign Office into allegations of child abuse on British territory of St Helena after claims were revealed by child protection charity

Foreign and Commonwealth Office promise independent investigation
Comes as social worker on island claims she was forced to resign
Said she was shocked over sheer volume of sexual abuse allegations
Claims she was harassed and threatened when she blew the whistle

By Louise Eccles 24 July 2014

A social worker on St Helena who claims she was forced to resign after authorities failed to tackle ‘appalling’ child sexual abuse on the island will have her shocking allegations probed by an independent investigation, Mail Online can reveal.
The social services manager, who has asked not to be named, said she was shocked when she arrived on the British overseas territory by the sheer volume of sexual abuse allegations.

But she claims she was harassed and threatened when she blew the whistle on the alleged failure of police to properly investigate such crimes.
Now the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has promised an independent investigation will be launched into her claims.
The probe comes after Mail Online revealed that a report by UK child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation found St Helena was rife with child sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual exploitation.

The charity was sent to the remote South Atlantic island by the British government, although the report was never released.
A spokeswoman for the FCO said: ‘These are extremely worrying allegations which we take very seriously….
‘Paedophiles were found to be private foster carers. Staff were allowed to have sexual relationships with vulnerable adults. Reported rapes were not dealt with.